AMMAN — The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) on Tuesday launched the hazardous substance information management system, designed to ensure the safe handling of chemical materials and help protect the environment.

The project connects the ministries of environment, agriculture, health, trade and industry and the Customs Department to a comprehensive electronic information network for the management of hazardous substances, according to an RSS statement received by The Jordan Times.

“The network is designed to create a unified documentation and management system...  in addition the system will provide concerned authorities with computerised and highly-protected special data on hazardous materials in the Kingdom,” the statement read.

Highlighting the importance of the system, RSS President Saad Hijazi said: “In the past, there have been several accidents due to the improper management of hazardous chemicals and the response for a number of these cases was slow due to lack of information about the characteristics of the material and emergency procedures to be followed.”

Hijazi said the new system — www.hsms.jo — would rectify this situation by providing all the necessary information to help reduce accidents.

The project, which is financed by the government of Switzerland, was carried out with the help of the Environmental Research Centre and the Information Technology Centre at the RSS in cooperation with and other concerned ministries and official institutions.

The launch ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment Khalid Irani and Swiss Ambassador to Jordan Paul Widmer.